Cutting machine



W. M. COOPER CUTTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.4, 1960 INVENTOR. ILL/AM M. COOPER ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1961 w. M. COOPER2,998,812 CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.WILLIAM M. COOPER ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 CUTTING MACHINE William M. Cooper, St. Louis,Mo., assignor to Champion Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Jan. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 192 2 Claims. (Cl.125-13) This invention relates generally to improvements in a cuttingmachine, and more particularly to an improved operating mechanism in amasonry saw for precisely adjusting the heighth of the cutting assemblyabove a work table and for swinging the cutting tool of such assemblytoward and away from the work table.

It is an important objective of the present invention to provide amasonry saw in which a cutting assembly is swingably mounted on avertically reciprocable support, a pedal is pivotally connected to aframe, and linkage means operatively interconnects the cutting assemblyand pedal so that an initial position of the cutting assembly relativeto its pivotal axis is maintained while the heighth of the cuttingassembly is adjusted upon reciprocation of the support, and at the sametime an initial position of the pedal relative to its pivotal axis ismaintained.

An important object is realized by the novel linkage means that enablesswinging movement of the cutting assembly upon pivotal actuation of thepedal from its initial position at any selected heighth position of thecutting assembly.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of a linkageconstituting heighth adjustment assembly that operatively interconnectsthe cutting assembly to the pedal for swinging the cutting assemblyabout its pivotal axis, and of another linkage constituting a stabilizerassembly that operatively interconnects the support to the machine fromand to the linkage of the heighth adjustment assembly for causing theheighth adjustment assembly to maintain an initial position of thecutting assembly relative to its pivotal axis upon reciprocation of thesupport.

Still another important object is provided by the mechanism previouslydescribed in which the heighth adjustment assembly includes a heighthadjustment bar pivoted to the cutting assembly, a lift link pivoted tothe pedal and a rocker arm extending between and pivoted to theadjustment bar and to the lift link; in which the stabilizer as- Semblyincludes a link stabilizer pivoted to the support and a floating linkpivoted to the frame and pivoted to the link stabilizer; and in which apivot means interconnects the floating link to the rocker arm, the linkstabiliz r and floating link acting through the pivot means to move thebar and rocker arm to maintain the initial position of the cuttingassembly upon reciprocation of the support by separate operatingmechanism such as by a hydraulic system, while the pedal is maintainedin its initial position.

Yet, another important object is achieved by the above mentioned pivotmeans betweenthe rocker arm and the floating link which is allowed tofloat or move in an are about the pivot connection of the floating linkto the frame so as to compensate for any tendency of the cuttingassembly to swing from its initial position relative to its pivotal axisupon reciprocation of the support, and hence maintain such initialposition of the cutting assembly, while the pedal is maintained in itsinitial position relative to its own pivotal axis.

Another important object is to provide an operating mechanism in amasonry saw that is simple and durable in construction, eflicient inoperation, economical to manufacture and assemble, and which can bereadily manipulated by anyone with only minimal instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the inventionwill more clearly appear from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment,

particularly when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the cutting machine showing thesupport for the cutting assembly in a lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view, as seen from the right of FIG. 1 ofthe cutting machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cutting machine similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 1, but showing the support for the cutting assemblyin a raised position. The pedal and cutting tool are illustrated inbroken lines to illustrate an adjusted pivoted position, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hydrauliccylinder-piston structure.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, it is seenthat the cutting machine includes a frame generally designated at 10,the frame 10 having a pair of front legs 11 and a pair of rear legs 12.A rectangular, open top pan .13 interconnects the upper portions offrame legs 11 and 12. A pair of base channels 14 extend between andsupport the lower ends of a front and a rear leg 11 and 12 at each sideof the cutting machine. An intermediate platform 15, disposedsubstantially midway between the pan 13 and the base channels 14, issecured to and extends between the front and rear legs 11 and 12.

A work table 16 is mounted on and is supported by the. frame 10. Morespecifically, the work table 16 includes rollers 17 that seat on andengage side rails 18 formed by the uppermost margins of pan 13 forhorizontal reciprocating movement in a fore and aft direction on themachine.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement on the frame 10 is a supportgenerally indicated at 20. This support 20' includes a pair of laterallyspaced, cylindrical sleeves 21 disposed at the rear of frame 10 andformed as a vertical continuation of the rear legs 12. The sleeves 21extend upwardly above the open top pan 13 and above the work table 16. Avertical cylindrical post 22 is slidably mounted in each of thecylindrical sleeves 21, the posts 22 being movable to the retractedposition illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the extended positionillustrated in FIG. 3. The posts 22 are rigidly secured by a transversebeam 23.

Flexible boots 24 provide dust seals for the connection between thesleeves 21 and the posts 22. Each boot 24 has one end secured to one ofthe posts 22 and the other end secured about the sleeve'21 with whichthe post is associated. The boots 24 are flexible to permit readyreciprocation of the posts 22 without any binding action.

Secured to the top of each post 22 is a bearing block 25 in which isformed an inclined forwardly facing notch 26. An axle 27 extends betweenthe bearing blocks 25 and is located for horizontal pivotal movement inthe notches 26.

The cutting assembly referred to at 30 is swingably mounted on support20 so as to move a cutting tool 3-1 toward and away from the work table16. More particularly, the cutting assembly 36 includes a platform 32fixed to axle 27 and disposed between the bearing blocks 25. Theplatform 32 is normally located in a horizontal initial positionrelative to its pivotal axis provided by axle 27.

A motor 33 is mounted on platform 32 and is operatively connected to thecutting tool 31 by a belt drive 34. The cutting tool 31 is in the natureof a masonry saw rotatably mounted to one end of platform 32 at one sideof the pivot axle 27.

A recirculating system (not shown) of a conventional well known type maybe provided to direct a coolant to the tool 31, which coolant iscollected by the pan 13.

For the convenience of the operator and for maximum efi'iciency inoperation of the cutting machine, a separate hydraulic system isutilized to reciprocate the support 20 vertically in order to adjust theheighth of the cutting assembly 30. The hydraulic system includes acylinder 35, the bottom end of which seats on and is secured to thebottom of pan 13, and hence is secured to the frame 10. Reciprocablymounted in the cylinder 35 is a coacting piston 36, the upper end ofpiston 36 being attached securely to the cross beam 23.

A pump assembly indicated at 37 is mounted on the forward end of theintermediate platform 15 of frame 10. The pump assembly 37 isoperatively interconnected to the cylinder 35 by a hose connection (notshown). A pump handle 38 is adapted to actuate the pump assembly 37 andhence actuate the cylinder-piston structure 35-36 in order toreciprocate the support 20.

Pivotally connected to the frame 19 about a horizontal axis is a pedal40. Specifically, the pedal 40 is attached by pivot pin 41 between apair of laterally spaced vertical bars 42 extending between and attachedto a cross brace 43 extending between the rear legs 12 and attached tothe bottom of pan 13. The pedal 40 extends forwardly from its pivotalaxis provided by pivot pin 41 to a position adjacent and between thefront frame legs 11. The forward end of the pedal 40 is provided with afoot plate 44.

In its normal initial position, the pedal 49 is disposed substantiallyhorizontal relative to its pivotal axis. As is best seen in FIG. 1, astop member 45 is threadedly attached to the intermediate frame platform15, the stop member 45 being provided with a rubber bumper 46 engagingthe top of pedal 4% to determine the initial position of the pedal 40.This normal initial position of pedal 40 relative to its pivotal axiscan be varied selectively upon threaded adjustment of the stop member45.

A tension spring 47 operatively interconnects the frame platform '15 andthe pedal 4% and tends to urge the pedal 4% upwardly against the stopmember 45, and hence tends to hold and maintain the pedal 40 in itsnormal initial position, illustrated in FIG. 1.

Operatively interconnecting the cutting assembly 30 and the pedal 49 isa heighth adjustment means that serves to swing the cutting assembly 30about axle 27 upon pivotal movement of pedal 40 about its pivotal axis.This heighth adjustment meansincludes a heighth adjustment bar t) havingone end pivotally attached to the platform 32. by a horizontal pivot pin51, such pivotal connection being to the platform 32 on the oppositeside of axle 27 from the cutting tool 3 1. The opposite end 52 ofadjustment bar 50 extends downwardly.

A lift link 53, provided by a pair of compatible link members, has oneend pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot pin 54 to the pedal 40 ata point spaced forwardly from the pedals pivot pin 41. The other end ofthe lift link 53 extends upwardly.

Extending between the adjustment bar 54} and the lift link 53 is arocker arm 55 consisting of a pair of link members. One end of therocker arm 55 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the lift link 53by a horizontal pivot pin 56. The other end of the rocker arm 55 ispivotally attached to the lower end 52 of the heighth adjustment bar 59by a horizontal pivot pin 57.

A stabilizer means operatively interconnects the support 20 to the frameand to and the previously described heighth adjustment means seas topermit the heighth adjustment means to maintain the cutting assembly 30in its initial horizontal position upon reciprocation of support 2% andyet enable swinging movement of the cutting assembly 39 about its axle27 upon actuation of pedal 40. L

The stabilizer means includes a pair of spaced brackets fixed to thecross beam 23 of the support 20, and hence constituting a part of suchsupport. One end of a link stabilizer 61 consisting of a pair of linkmembers is attached pivotally to the support bracketsi'! by a horizontalpivot pin 62. The link stabilizer 61 extends downwardly. A floating link63 consisting of a pair of link members has one end pivotally attachedby a horizontal pivot pin 64 to the rigid vertical frame bars 42. Theother end of the floating link 63 is pivotally connected to the lowerend of the link stabilizer 61 by a horizontal pivot pin 65.

A pivot means provided by the horizontal pivot pin 66 operativelyinterconnects the floating link 63 with the rocker arm 55. The floatingpivot pin 66 is located between the pivot pins 56 and 57 at the end ofthe rocker arm 55 and is located between the pivot pins 64 and 65 at theend of the floating link 63. It will be particularly noted that thefloating pivot pin 66 moves in an are about pivot pin 64 as the floatinglink 63 is pivotally moved upon reciprocation of support 20.

It will be immediately realized that while the rocker arm 55, lift link53, link stabilizer 61 and floating link 63 each consist of a pair oflink members for rigidity and strength in the embodiment disclosed, asingle member may be used and interconnected to operate in the samemanner and provide the same functions.

To describe the operation of the cutting machine, assume that thesupport 20 is located in its lowermost position, as is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. The pedal 40 is maintained in its normal, horizontalinitial position relative to its pivot axis 41 and the platform 32 ofthe cutting assembly 30 is maintained in its initial horizontal positionrelative to its pivot axle 27. The cutting tool 31 is now in itslowermost heighth position above the work table as determined by thesupport 20.

In order to swing the cutting tool 31 downwardly toward the work table,while the support 20 is held in this lowermost adjusted heighthposition, the pedal 40 is depressed or pivotally moved from its initialhorizontal position about its pivot pin 41. The pedal 40 upon beingdepressed acts through the lift link 53 to rotate or swing the rockerarm 55 upwardly about the pivot pin 66. Such pivotal movement of therocker arm 55 causes an up ward movement of the heighth adjustment bar50, and hence causes a pivotal movement of the cutting assembly 30counterclockwise (FIG. 1) so as to lower the cutting tool 31 toward thework table 16.

It is seen that while the support 20 is maintained in its lowermostposition, or in fact is maintained in any adjusted heighth position, thelink stabilizer 61 fixed to the support '20 holds the floating link 63in a stationary position, and hence holds the floating pivot pin 66 in astationary position about which the rocker arm 55 can rotate.

When the pedal 40 is raised, as for example back to its initialhorizontal position, the rocker arm 55 is rotated clockwise (FIG. 1)about the pivot pin 66 to cause a corresponding clockwise movement ofthe cutting assembly 30 about its pivotal axis provided by axle 27, andthereby raise the cutting tool 31 away from the work table 16.

If it is desired to raise the cutting assembly 30, the operatormanipulates the pump handle 38 to actuate the hydraulic system, moreparticularly the cylinder and piston structure 35 and 36, to raise thesupport 20 to the desired heighth position. It will be noted that thepedal 40 is maintained in its initial horizontal position relative toits pivotal axis upon raising the support 20. If it were not for thepanticular structure and connection of the stabilizer means provided bythe link stabilizer 61 and the floating link 63,- there would be atendency for the cutting assembly 30 to rotate about its axle 27 in aclockwise direction (FIG. 1) which would further raise the cutting tool31 in a direction away from the work table 16. It is desirable to holdthe initial position of the cutting assembly 30 relative to its pivotaxle 27 while the support and the cutting assembly 30 are raised as aunit, and at the same time hold the pedal 40 in its initial position.

When the support 20 is raised, the link stabilizer 61 rotates thefloating link 63 about pivot pin 64 in a counterclockwise direction fromthe position shown in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.Because the rocker arm 55 is attached directly to the floating link 63-by the pivot pin 66, the pivot pin 66 acts to rotate the rocker arm 55in a counterclockwise direction. It will be noted that the pivot pin 66moves in an arc upwardly about the pivot pin 64.

As the rocker arm 55 is rotated as described above upon raising thesupport 20, the heighth adjustment bar 50 is raised and therebymaintains the cutting assembly 20 in the initial horizontal positionrelative to its axle 27.

Thus it is seen that in any adjusted heighth position of cuttingassembly 30 upon reciprocation of the support 20,. the initial positionof the cutting assembly 30 about its axle 27 and the initial position ofpedal 40 relative to its pivot pin 41, is maintained. Furthermore, inany adjusted heighth position of the cutting assembly 30 and of support2t), the pedal 40 can be moved from its initial position about itspivotal axis to swing the cutting assembly 30 about its axle 27 in orderto swing the cutting tool 31 toward and away from the work table '16.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed referenceto a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in aninstructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants beingpossible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cutting machine, a frame, a work table mounted on said frame, asupport mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocal movement, acutting assembly pivotally mounted on said support, the cutting assemblyincluding a cutting tool at one side of its pivotal axis, a pedalpivoted to said frame below said cutting assembly, means engaging thepedal to hold the pedal in a substantially horizontal initial positionrelative toits pivotal axis, a heighth adjustment assembly including anadjustment bar having one end pivoted to the cutting assembly on the,

opposite side of its pivotal axis from the cutting tool, said adjustmentbar extending downwardly, a lift link having one end pivoted to saidpedal in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the pedal to saidframe, said lift link extending upwardly, a rocker arm having one endpivoted to the other end of said adjustment bar, the rocker arm havingits other end pivoted to the other end of said lift link, said heighthadjustment assembly maintaining the cutting assembly in substantially ahorizontal initial position relative to its pivotal axis when the pedalis located in its initial position, a stabilizer assembly including alink stabilizer having one end pivoted to said sup- 7 port and extendingdownwardly, and a floating link having one end pivoted to the other endof said link stabilizer, said floating link having its other end pivotedto said frame yet fixed in a stationary position thereto, pivot meansinterconnecting the rocker arm to said floating link,

said pivot means being disposed between the pivoted ends of said rockerarm and between the pivoted ends of said floating link, means forreciprocating said support,

said link stabilizer and floating link acting through said pivot meansto move the rocker arm and said adjustment bar to maintain the cuttingassembly in its initial horizontal position upon reciprocation of saidsupport without moving the pedal trom its initial horizontal position,the pedal acting through the heighth adjustment assembly to pivot thecutting assembly and hence move the cutting tool toward and away fromthe work table upon pivotal movement of said pedal without causing anymovement of said stabilizer assembly.

2. In a cutting machine, a frame, a work table mounted on said frame, asupport mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocal movement, acutting assembly provided with a cutting tool, means mounting thecutting assembly to the support about a horizontal pivotal axis forswinging the tool toward and away from said work table, a pedal pivotedabout a horizontal axis to said frame, means for holding the pedalselectively in an initial position relative to its pivotal axis, aheighth adjustment bar pivoted about a horizontal axis to said cuttingassembly, a lift link pivoted about a horizontal axis to said pedal, thelift link and adjustment bar extending toward each other, a rocker armextending between the lift link and adjustment bar, the rocker armhaving one end pivoted about a horizontal axis to the lift lllllk andhaving the other end pivoted about a horizontal axis to the adjustmentbar, a link stabilizer pivoted about a horizontal axis to said support,a floating link having one end pivoted about a horizontal axis to saidframe yet fixed in a stationary position relative to said frame andhaving the other end pivoted about a horizontal axis to said stabilizer,pivot means interconnecting the rocker arm to said floating link about ahorizontal axis, the pivot means being disposed between the pivoted endsof the rocker arm and the pivoted ends of the floating link, and meansconnected directly to said support for reciprocating said support toadjust the heighth of said cutting assembly, the link stabilizer andfloating link being movable by said support and acting through saidpivot means to move the rocker arm and said adjustment bar to maintainthe cutting assembly in an initial position relative to its horizontalpivotal axis upon vertical reciprocable adjustment of said support whilesaid pedal is maintained in its initial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,557,672 McGrath June 19, 1951 2,682,262 Schultz June 29, 19542,863,440 Harclerode Dec. 9, 1958 2,893,372 Harclerode July 7, 1959

